Given the amount of water in Florida, both salt water at the coast and the numerous freshwater lakes around Orlando, you might well think that the jetski does rule Florida.
While that may or may not be the case, anyone with a date of birth after January 1st 1988 needs to pass a test before they are let loose on a Personal Water Craft (PWC) on their own. In Florida, you must be at least 18 years old to rent a PWC.
There are two ways to gain the required qualification.
Online Boating Safety Course
A free online course is available at elearning.boatus.org. The course must take at least 3 hours and there is no way to cheat and flick through the course without paying attention as each page is timed.
Once the course is completed successfully, it is possible to print out a temporary certificate as proof of boating education. A permanent card will be mailed 3 to 4 weeks later.
Temporary certificate
Some rental operators have the ability to administer a Florida Boater's Safety Temporary Certificate. The test takes approximately 30 minutes and a charge may well be made. The certificate is valid for 12 months.
The regulations are available at Florida Boating Regulations
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